Pope Leo XIV wants you back in church — even if you only come for the free wine

Pope Leo XIV: Can America’s First Pope Reignite the Catholic Flame (or at Least Light a Candle)?

America finally has its first pope — Pope Leo XIV — and while some Catholics are cheering, others are just now realizing the pope doesn’t do halftime shows. 

A new Pew study says most U.S. Catholics pray sometimes, skip Mass a lot, and only go to confession when their guilt reaches “ate-a-whole-pizza-alone” levels. 

Enter Pope Leo, who might just be what the Church needs: a pontiff who can speak fluent emoji and maybe has a fantasy football team. 

Still, experts are skeptical he’ll spark a Catholic comeback tour — though he might at least get us back to lighting candles that aren’t pumpkin-scented. If anything, Leo might not bring people in, but he might slow the exodus by reminding folks that Catholicism isn’t just guilt and kneel-squats. 

Maybe, just maybe, Americans will start practicing their faith again... or at least remember where the church is. Baby steps. Or should we say: Stations of the Crosswalk?

Read the full story here.

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